System of gas distribution for internal-combustion engines.



W. R. MOKBEN, JR.

SYSTEM OF GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1907. 1,081,619, Patented-Dec. 16, 1913.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTH W. R. MOKEEN, JR. SYSTEM 01? GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.19.1907.

Pajzented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 SHEET S-S HEET 2.

W/TNES 8 $1. WC M4%%%yk pnirnn srniwnnir W E WILLIAM E MQKEEN, JR, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA, essrenon, BY Mnsnn nests-n- -MENTS,- T0 EIGKEEN Moron can ooMrAnY, or OMAETA;

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Application filedlfiebruary 19, 190?.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. MCKEEN, Jr, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Gas Distribution for Internal-Combustion Engines, oi which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. a 1 I This invention pertains to internal combustion engines of the multi-cylinder type, and more particularly to the distribution or delivery of the explosive mixture to the respective cylinders thereof.

The rimary object of the invention is to furnish simple and efiicient means whereby each of the several cylinders shall be caused to receive a like quantity of explosive mixture, and another object is to insure a thorough commin'gling of the fuel, gas or vapor and air, and the maintenance of such mixture during the entire travel thereof from the carbureter to each of the cylinders. In other words, the invention is designed to secure uniformity of charge both as to quantity and quality for all the cylinders of the engine. I

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of'which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying"drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan thereof; Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout both views of the drawin s.

' is tending to render clearer certain features and aims of this invention, it may here be noted that in the use of multi-cylinder internal combustion'engines it is of a high degree of importance that the charge distributed to the several cylinders is uni.-

form in quality, in order that each cylinderjniay do the work assigned to the same. It

will be seen that if there is a more or less incomplete mixture of. air and hydrocar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 358,313.

in specific gravities of these components, to

separate, with a'rcsultant transmission thi one or more cylinders of an over-rich charge, and a charge which is correspond ngly poor in hydrocarbon to the remain"- rng cylinders. Inasmuch as either oi 'thejse irregularities seriously interferes with the proper working of an internal combustion engine by reason of the fact that its enciency depends largely upon the character of the gas burned therein, it will be seen that for the reliable and 'economical run 11mg of an engine of this type uniformity in this regard is high'iy important. The above and other ends are attained in core structions of the nature or" that hereinafter described:

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a t-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising two sets at cyllnders, each set comprising three cyl Patentedfiec. inJQiiS.

inders, designated respectively by the numerals 1, 2 and 3, having a carbureter 4 disposed intermediate the two sets. carbureter a short coupling 5 leads to an upwardly disposed, elbow 6 which terminates in a T or branch fitting 7. From this point the conduits 8 lead in opposite directions toward the two sets of cylinders, and inasmuch as the construction is symmetrical with respect to this point, or duplicated on opposite sides thereof, that upon remaining or'outwardly disposed 'arms of.

the fittings 12 and 13 terminate respectively in elbow fittings 16 and 17 which are curved into a horizontal plane and lead respectively into the cylinders l and 3. A suitable deflecting plate'18 bisects the passage within the elbow fitting 6 and follows the curvature of the short connection 5, thus insurving an even division of the .gas as the same passes from the carbureter at. Bydividing From this the larger single or undivided conduit. It-

is well known that if a conduit be of considerable cross area, air, gases and like fluids often set up counter-currents, and there will frequently be reverse currents at opposite sides or in different parts of the conduit. B subdividing the conduit from the point at which the mixture enters the same from the carburcter, a more intimate commingling uniform in richness throughout.

is insured, and the liability of counter-currents or separate currents of gas or vapor and of air is lessened. or eliminated. By

permitting the separate streams again to unite before being directed to the respective cylinders, a homogeneous and uniform mixture is insured even though it happen, as may be the case in some instances, that the carbureter delivers mixtures of slightly differingquality to the two branches of the conduit. It may here be noted that "the arms of the several 'liconnections or fittings are curved away from the opening leading thereinto in such manner as to tend to divide the gas evenly. The entire system of piping, moreover, is free from abrupt bends, and the gas is transmitted throughout the same from the carbureter to the several cylinders through a series of curves, whereby the same is given a whirling motion which effectively mixes the same and renders it Another feature of importance in this connection lies in the disposition of the piping wherebythe distance from the carbureter to each cylinder is substantially equal and the chance of any cylinder drawing more than its share of the hydrocarbon by reason of its proximity to the carburetor thus obviated.

The problem of delivering gas or explosive mixture to a set of three cylinders, and insuring equal distance of travel thereof to each cylinder, has heretofore proven ditficult of solution, and presents obstacles not involved in the equal delivery of mixture.

to cylinders arranged in pairs. By the employment of the double-armed or branching couplings 12 and 13, with the intermediate coupling or fitting 14 and fittings 16 and 17, each of the three cylinders of a group receives its mixture by pipes or conduits having precisely the same length and the same curvature or form, hence the gas or mixture delivered to each is of the same quantity and quality or character as that delivered to its companions, and this is true as to the cylinders of both sets of three.

The operation of the above described embodiment of my invention, in so far as the same has not been already set forth, is substantially as follows: Assuming the carbureted mixture to pass from the carbureter l, the same is evenly divided into two portions by the deflector 1 8 and is curved upwardly and thrown into the T fitting 7.

From this point the entire current of gas is again evenly divided or branched oft" toward the two sets'of cylinders the retintrant wall of the T opposite the discharge opening of the elbow 6 forming in effect a second deflector and insuring uniformity of division at this point. The gas is then led throughout the systems of piping at each side of the T fitting 7, and passes through an equal length of conduit to each of the cylinders, the whirling movement due to the several curves being maintained and the mixture thus perfected or kept perfect.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an apparatus in which the several objects of my invention are attained and the above enumerated advantages age, among others, present. It will also be seen that the construction is of the simplest and most inexpensive, and the disposition of the parts, although such as to best insure uniformity of mixture, is nevertheless compact and occupies but a small space. All of the cylinders are at a constant distance from the sourceof supply, and all of the cylinders draw' gas or mixture in which-the hydrocarbon is thoroughly mingled with the air.

As shown in Fig. 1, the six cylinders are arranged in line in two groups of three each, and are designated by the numerals 1, 2 and 3 in each group. The cylinder 2- of each group is hence an intermediate cyl-. inder with reference to cylinders 1 and 3 of such group, and the term intermediate in the claims is used in this sense.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it isintended that all matter contained in the above descriptionor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language niight'be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having two groups of three cylinderseach, a carbureter located between the two'groups of cylinders; a conduit prolit) and

LOBLSIQ ceeding from said carburetor, and divided adjacent the carburetor into a plurality of smaller conduits or-passages; branches extending in opposite directions from said conduit to points opposite the admission points of the intermediate cylinders of the respective groups and there bifurcated, the two forks of each branch extending to points midway between the admission points of the several cylinders of a group; and further branch conduits connecting with the branches of the bifurcated conduit; and extending thence in opposite directions to the inlets of the cylinders at each side of the points of connection with the bifurcated branch, the bodies of the several conduits lying in a common plane pa allel with the general plane of the two groups of cylin ders.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprising three cylinders arranged in common plane, a carburi conduit extending from said carburetor to a point opposite the admission point of the intermediate cylinder of the group and there bifurcated, its branches extending to points intermediate the admission points of the three cylinders of the group; and a further conduit connecting with both branches of the bifurcated conduit, and having two branches extending toward each other and communicating with the inlet of the inter mediate cylinoer, and similar but reversely CXtEIlCllIlP' branches respectively communicating with the inlets of the outer cylinders of the group, the walls of the several branch conduits each being formed with a rentrantangle opposite the mouth of the pipe or conduit which supplies it.

In combination with an internal combustion enginehaving two groups of three 'cylinders each, a carburetor located between the two groups of cylinders; a conduit proceeding from said carburetor; branches extending in opposite directions from said. conduit to points opposite the admission points of the intermediate cylinders of the respective groups and there bifurcated, the two forks of each branch extending to points midway between the admission points of the several cylinders of the group; and further branch conduits connecting with the branches of the bifurcated conduit, and extending thence in opposite directions to the inlets of the cylinders at each side of the points of connection with the bifurcated branch, the bodies of the several conduits lying in a common plane parallel with the general plane of the two groups of cylin ders.

l. In a multl-cylinder engine, in combina" tion, carburetmg means; an upwardly curved conduit leading from said carburetlng means; a bifurcated conduit, the arms of which curve away from each other, leadtion,

Zip can ing from said first conduit, the inner ends of said arms being curved downwardly with respect to said first conduit; a plurality of cylinders; means connecting one of said arms with one of said cylinders; a conduit leading from the other of said arms and curved downwardly and bifurcated into two arms; means connected with c: ch of said two arms and branched to form two passages; means connected with one of the passages of each of said last-mentioned means and curved upwardly into a single passage leading to one of said cylinders; and separate means connected with each of the remaining pitSSi-igQS, each being cur/ed upwardly and'toward one of said cylinders and connected therewith.

5. in a multi-cylinder engine, in combination, carbureting means; an upwardly curved conduit leading from said carbureb ing means; a bifurcated condm j, the arms of which our away fro: other, leading from said lirst cond V of said arms l respect to it" a plus cylinders; means connecting on; arms with one of said cyli crs;

lit-y of Oi said conduit leading from the other of sa l arms and curved doi'vnwarilly and bifir'catcd into two arms; means connected with. each of said two arms and blanched to forn'i two passages; means eonnccteitl with one of the passages of each or said last-mentioned means, and curved upwardly into a single passage leading to one of said nlindcrs;

and separate means connected wild of the remaining passages, each being; ciuwed u} 'iwardly and. into one of said several conduits being disposed asi'o provide pass g equal in length fron'i said uarbureting incubus to each of said cylinders.

6. In a multi-cylindcr engine, in combii 1 tion, caroureting means; an upwardly curred conduit leading from said carbureting means; a bifurcated conduit the arms of which curve away from each other, lcadice from said first conduit; a plurality ofcylinders; means connecting one of said arms with one of said cylinders; a conduit leading from the other of said arms and curved downwardly and bifurcated. into two arms; means connected with each of,

said two arms and branched to form two passages; means connected with one of the passages of each of said last-mentioned means, and curved upwardly into a single passage leading to one of said cylinders; and separate means connected with each of the remaining passages, each being; curved upwardly and into one of said cylinders, each of said. conduits and said means bein}; curved into the part with which it connects 7. In a multi-cylinder engine, in combinacarbureting means; an upwardly curved conduit leading from said carbureting means; a bifurcated conduit, the arms of which curve away from each other, leading from said first conduit; a plurality of cylinders; means connecting one of said arms With one of said. cylinders; a conduit leading from the other of said arms and curved downwardly and bifurcated into two arms; means connected with each of said two armsand branched to form two;

passages; means connected with one of the passages of each of said last-mentioned means, and curved upwardly into a single passage leading to one of said cylinders; and separate means connected With each of the remaining passages, each being curved upwardly and into one of said cylinders, each of said conduits and said means being curved into the part with which it connects and said conduits and said means being so formed and disposed as to provide passages substantially equal in length from said .carbureting means to each of said cylinders.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM R. MOKEEN, JR.

Witnesses:

H. P. VAN AnsDALn CHAS. W. LOUCKS, 

